1st week end in Deauville opened with Woody Allen, Catherine Deneuve, Pierce Brosnnan, Johnny Depp and full houses

A few good films in the line up, treat for the most demanding fans of american cinema and a lot of celebrities attending the festival for its 45th run.

I was able to watch again Ed Wood screened at the old casino , part of the homage to Johnny Depp, (10 people in the room?) and two films in cthe competition, the bizarre "Swallow" (do not let kids watch this film please, we do not want them imitating and swallowing those things we see on screen), and the very thick "SKIN" which received hefty applause from the audience, both screenings were packed, as are all screeenings of films in competitions or galas (press not allowed)

What a smart idea to celebrate 25 years of competitionsin Deauville with the past presidents of the jury.The competitive section has been added to the festival 25 years ago by Bruno Barde who joined after serving a career of press attache. A creative selection of indie movies has revitalised the week days of the festival, traditionnally the week days were very slow, while week ends were very busy and reserved for the studio blockbusters (who now no longer show up in Normandy for their publicty roll out in Europe)

In attendance, dressed in black for the evening gala presentation, were Claude Lelouch, a true Deauville lover, Polanski who found out live about his Golden Lion in Venice, (which his wife took on his behalf), Regis Wargnier, Audrey Pulvar, Jean Paul Rappeneau, Valerie Donzelli, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Regis Wargnier, Michel Hazanavicius, Emmanuelle Beart and Pierre Lescure.